17... Be4!
r2r2k1/4qpp1/1p2p2p/p1n5/1P2b3/P1R1PN2/2Q1BPPP/2R3K1 w - - 1 18
Hum... where does the queen go now ? There's no Bd3, and Qb2 loses (at least) the exchange, so Qa2 is what I played. Perhaps Qb2, losing the exchange, was the least of the worst, but I did not foresee Stockfish's next killer move...

18. Qa2 axb4!
r2r2k1/4qpp1/1p2p2p/2n5/1p2b3/P1R1PN2/Q3BPPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 19
Black threatens to push the pawn, white can't take the pawn, Rc3 is lost no matter what white plays. May as well play Rc4, hoping to consolidate a bit after losing the exchange...

Nice experiment, btw b4 looked so natural to me too I am also going straight to the trap . Would you fancy a game on playchess? I am a ~2040 rated player, we can try some quick time control (3+1 for example), if you are interested